DUBOIS, Pa. - Officials ruled a fire at a Clearfield County apartment and hardware store in May as arson.

Crews responded to the building on West Long Avenue in DuBois on May 19, which housed Mike's Lock and Hardware Store on the first floor and apartments upstairs. Several people were left homeless.

"I got a call from my sister that said, 'Mike your building is on fire,'" said Mike Rudzinski, owner of the hardware store.

Rudzinski said the fire destroyed inventory and keys and machines for his lock business.

The store has been in DuBois for decades.

"As of today (Tuesday), it's been 48 years in the business," Rudzinski said. "I break into cars and houses, legally. I'm there to help people."

Although he's been without a store front for the past four months, Rudzinski said he wants customers to know he's still in business and operating on the go.

"I'm like Sanford and Sons out of the back of my truck now," Rudzinski said. "I come to people, I go to people but I've always did go to people."

The fire was recently ruled an arson by Cpl. Greg Agosti of the Pennsylvania State Police after the discovery of forensic data.

Rudzinski said it's a ruling he doesn't agree with because his shop was having issues after a water main break in the upstairs apartments.

"Every hardware store has some kind of chemical in there," Rudzinski said. "I had some small chemicals for cleaning locks at my front counter there, but other than that I had really no big chemicals in there that would be explosive."

Agosti said police have received several tips since ruling the fire arson and the investigation is moving forward.

Anyone with information is asked to call state police in Ridgway at (814) 776-6136.

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